1976 Canada Cup champions honoured in Halifax

Team Canada's championship entry in the 1976 Canada Cup was honoured Tuesday at the world men's hockey championship in Halifax.

The Canadian Press · May 6, 2008

It took almost 32 years for someone to honour the team that won the 1976 Canada Cup, but Bobby Hull never doubted that the team was remembered fondly.

"I didn't think we were forgotten," he said. "It seemed like every time I went to a hockey event, I was asked about the 1976 team.

"This was just icing on the cake."

Players and coaches from that squad attended Canada's game at the world men's hockey championship on Tuesday and saw the home side play the U.S. in vintage uniforms from their hockey era.

They were also part of a luncheon with fans earlier in the day and were honoured during the first intermission with a video montage and standing ovation at the Metro Centre.

"It has been a blast," said Lanny McDonald, who was a young forward with that team.

He went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989, but McDonald said there was nothing more special than winning the Canada Cup.

Bobby Orr also said that playing for his country was even better than lifting the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972.

"The Stanley Cups were great," Orr said. "But for me, it [the Canada Cup] was the highlight of my career.

"It was the first and only time I played for my country at an international tournament."

It was also one of the last times he was able to play at a high level.

Orr was named the tournament's most valuable player after putting up nine points in seven games.

The man who many consider to be the greatest defenceman of all time only played in 26 NHL games after the event before serious knee injuries forced him to retire.

WHA players included

The 1976 Canada Cup was the first of five such events, and featured many of the best players in the world as the World Hockey Association allowed the release of its players, including Hull, who was unable to play in the 1972 Summit Series after signing a WHA contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

"Not being able to play for Canada in 1972 was the biggest disappointment of my career," Hull said.

It made the Canada Cup experience even better.

The Golden Jet scored five goals over the seven games.

Scotty Bowman coached the team, and still remembers his lines and how he matched them up against the opposition.